Faith and Folklore in Calabria

Travel in Calabria with faith and folklore, religious procession and traditions which describe the great culture of Calabria. Thanks to the sightseeing on the Cedars Riviera, on the high part of Tyrrhenian Coast, you could know wonderful places with breathtaking scenaries.

ITINERARY No.1 – 6 DAYS/5 NIGHTS

Wednesday: arrive to hotel in Diamante, a village on the Tyrrenian Coast.

Thursday: sightseeing of the Cedar Museum at Santa Maria del Cedro with tasting of products made by this fruit. Free time in the afternoon and, after dinner, we go to Verbicaro in order to see the famous religious cerimony called “Vattienti” (flagellants) until late at night: the “Vattienti” are faithfull who flog themselves until they draw blood as a sign of their devotion.

Friday: sightseeing of Diamante which is very famous for the Red Hot Pepper Festival (on September) and the “Murales”, more than one hundred painting on walls of houses in the historical centre. In the afternoon guided visit to Praia a Mare and the Madonna of the Cave a Sanctuary with three caves posed on a different level, each one with a natural large opening to the outside where enters air, light and sun in the afternoon.

Saturday: sightseeing of Guardia Piemontese, another village on the coast which was founded by the “Valdesi” from Piedmont. The people who lives there still speak “Occitano” and preserve their traditions. Its historical centre tells the sad period of repression as evidenced by the “Porta del Sangue” (Blood Door) at entrance to the village. In the afternoon visit to the Red Hot Pepper Museum in Maierà and tasting of typical products.

Sunday: sightseeing of the St. Francis from Paola Sanctuary: the visit included a walking along “the rough of Miracles”, which tells some his miracles, and the hermitage. In the afternoon guided visit of Maratea, the nearest village situated in Basilicata (a region next to Calabria) which is very famous for its Christ statue (about 22 mt high).

Monday: departure.

ITINERARY No 2 – 5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS

Saturday: arrival to hotel in Diamante.

Sunday: sightseeing of the St. Francis from Paola Sanctuary: the visit included a walking along “the rough of Miracles”, which tells some his miracles, and the hermitage. In the afternoon sightseeing of Diamante which is very famous for the Red Hot Pepper Festival (on September) and the “Murales”, more than one hundred painting on walls of houses in the historical centre. Than transfert to Praia a Mare and visit of the Madonna of the Cave a Sanctuary with three caves posed on a different level, each one with a natural large opening to the outside where enters air, light and sun in the afternoon.

Monday: sightseeing of Guardia Piemontese, another village along the coast which was founded by the “Valdesi” from Piedmont. The people who lives there still speak “Occitano” and preserves their traditions. Its historical centre tells the sad period of repression as evidenced by the “Porta del Sangue” (Blood Door) at entrance to the village. In the afternoon visit to the Red Hot Pepper Museum in Maierà and tasting of typical products.

Tuesday: visit to Frascineto, one of several Albania villages in Calabria where people still keep their mother tongue and tradition as you can see at the Albanian Custom Museum. Then visit the little village Civita (next to Frascineto) which has a breathtaking panorama on the Raganello Gorges. In its main place you can see the famous Vallje, an ancient rite where the Arbëreschë people celebrate every Tuesday after Easter one of the Hero Skanderberg’s victory against the Turkish Empire.

Wednesday: departure.

Faith and Folklore in Calabria

5 or 6 days in Calabria between faith and folklore, religious processions and traditions during the Easter period.